FLEXIBLE BAG FOR PACKAGING COMPRESSIBLE ABSORBENT ARTICLES

SAC SOUPLE POUR L'EMBALLAGE D'ARTICLES ABSORBANTS COMPRESSIBLES

English Abstract

Flexible plastic bag (10) for a plurality of compressible absorbent articles
(54) which are arranged in parallel, one beside the other. The bag (10) has an
approximately rectangular base (12), a front side (14), a rear side (16), two
narrow sides (18, 20) and an upper side (22) and is closed on all sides. The
bag also has a line of weakness (30) which marks an opening for the individual
removal of the articles (54). The height of the bag (10) is greater than the
depth of the bag, the line of weakness (30) extends, midway along the bag
(10), from the longitudinal center of the upper side (22), towards the base
(12), about half way down the front side (14) of the bag (10). The base has a
downwardly directed supporting band (32). The absorbent articles (54) do not
exert sufficient pressure on any of the sides (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22) of the
bag (10) filled with said articles (54) to cause the opening to gape open. The
opening can be formed by bending the bag to open the line of weakness, and it
closes after removal of the product when the bag is replaced on its supporting
edge. Thus, the bag provides a substantial hygienic storage of absorbent
products.

French Abstract

Cette invention concerne un sac plastique souple (10) destiné à recevoir plusieurs articles absorbants compressibles (54), lesquels sont disposés parallèlement les uns à côté des autres. Le sac (10) possède une base approximativement rectangulaire (12), un côté avant (14), un côté arrière (16), deux côtés étroits (18, 20) et un côté supérieur (22), ledit sac étant fermé sur tous ses côtés. Ce sac comporte également une ligne de faiblesse (30) délimitant une ouverture permettant de retirer un à un les articles (54). La hauteur du sac (10) est supérieure à sa profondeur et la ligne de faiblesse (30) s'étend sur le milieu du sac (10), en partant du centre de la ligne médiane longitudinale du côté supérieur (22) vers la base (12), et sur environ la moitié du côté avant (14) du sac (10). La base (12) est, quant à elle, dotée d'une bande de support (32) orientée vers le bas. La pression qu'exercent les articles absorbants (54) sur les côtés (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22) du sac (10) qui les contient n'est pas suffisante pour entraîner l'écartement de l'ouverture. L'ouverture se forme lorsque l'on plie le sac de manière à ouvrir la ligne de faiblesse, et se referme quand on remet le sac sur son côté de support après en avoir retiré des articles. Ce sac permet ainsi d'assurer un stockage très hygiénique d'articles absorbants.

Claims

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WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A flexible bag (10) for a plurality of
compressible absorbent articles (54) which are arranged
in parallel one beside the other, the bag (10) having a
greater height than width and having an approximately
rectangular base (12), a front side (14), a rear side
(16), two narrow sides (18, 20) and an upper side (22)
and being closed on all sides and being provided with a
line of weakness (30) which marks an opening for the
removal of one of the articles (54), characterized in
that the line of weakness (30) extends from a first
location proximate a longitudinal center of the upper
side (22), toward and down the front side (14) toward
the base (12) to a second location about half way down
the front side (14).
2. The flexible bag of Claim 1, characterized in
that the bag (10) comprises a single length portion (50)
of a plastic film, the front side (14) and the rear side
(16) of the bag (10) comprising the longitudinal halves
(34, 36), of a film web (38), folded longitudinally one
upon the other to form a longitudinal fold (40), and the
base (12) being formed by pushing the longitudinal fold
(40) inward to form an inner fold (42) between the two
longitudinal halves (34, 36) thereof, which halves are
sealed in each case to one of the two film portions
(44, 46), forming the inner fold (42), in order to form
a supporting band (32), and the two narrow sides
(18, 20) being formed from front and rear ends (48, 49)
of in each case one length portion (50) of the folded
film web (38), which front and rear ends are sealed to
one another and, in the region of the base (12), to the
inner fold (40), while the upper side (22) is formed by
lateral outer borders (56, 58) which are located

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opposite the inner fold (42), parallel thereto, belong
to the two longitudinal halves (34, 36) of the film web
(38) and are sealed to one another by a seam (24) along
a longitudinal center line parallel to the base (12).
3. The flexible bag of Claim 1, characterized in
that the line of weakness (30) is formed by perforating
the film material (38).
4. The flexible bag of Claim 1, characterized in
that the line of weakness (30) is formed by reducing the
thickness of the film material (38).
5. The flexible bag of one of Claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that the height of the line of weakness
(30) is 110 mm on the front side.
6. The flexible bag of Claim 1, characterized in
that the supporting band (32) arranged around the border
of the base (12) is of a height of 7 mm.
7. The flexible bag of one of Claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that the film material (38) consists of
polyethylene.
8. The flexible bag of Claim 7, characterized in
that the thickness of the polyethylene film is 0.040 mm.
9. The flexible bag of Claim 1, characterized in
that the articles (54) are sanitary towels.
10. A process for producing a flexible bag and for
packaging compressible, absorbent articles therein,
comprising the steps of:
- conveying a continuous, planar web (38) comprising
a plastic film forwards in a stepwise manner in
length portions (39) which correspond approximately
to the length of the bag (10);
- folding the film web (38) upon itself about a
longitudinal axis, in doing so forming a longitudinal
fold (40) on one longitudinal side and two

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longitudinal halves (34, 36), located one above the
other, of the film web (38);
pushing film portions (44, 46), located adjacent to
one another, of two longitudinal halves (34, 36)
continuously inward at the longitudinal fold (40)
in order to form an inner fold (42), the
longitudinal halves (34; 36) of the film web (38)
forming two outer folds (41; 43) with the film
portions (44; 46) of the inner fold (42);
sealing one longitudinal half (34) of the film web
(38) to one film portion (44) of the inner fold
(40) in the region of the outer fold (41), and,
separately therefrom, but simultaneously, sealing
the upper longitudinal half (36) of the film web
(38) to the upper film portion (46) of the inner
fold (40) in the region of the outer fold (43),
said sealing being over a width which corresponds
to the height of a supporting band (32);
sealing front and, subsequently, rear ends (48, 49)
of the length portions (50), corresponding to the
length of a bag (10), of the longitudinal halves
(34, 36), located adjacent to one another, of the
film web (38) in order to form the narrow sides
(18, 20) of the bag (10) and substantially
simultaneously severing the bag (10) from the film
web (38);
characterized in that:
the planar web of the plastic film is folded in a
horizontal plane, forming longitudinal halves (34,
36) located one above the other;
a line of weakness (30) is produced proximate a
longitudinal center of the upper longitudinal half
(36) of said length portions (39), substantially
transversely to the direction of movement (x) of

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the film web (38), which line of weakness (30)
extends from an outer border (56), which is
parallel to the longitudinal fold (40) and
corresponds to the upper longitudinal half (36),
toward the longitudinal fold (40), approximately
half way to the outer fold (43);
- an introduction opening (51), formed by outer
borders (56, 58) of the two longitudinal halves
(34, 36) and located opposite the base (12), of the
bag (10) is opened and widened by a compressed-air
jet (y);
- a stack (52) of articles (54) is introduced into
the bag (10);
- the outer borders (56, 58), enclosing the
introduction opening (51), of the film material
(38) are folded inward on the narrow sides (18, 20)
in order to close the introduction opening (51)
partially, and the introduction opening (51) is
then closed by pressing the borders (56, 58),
corresponding to the front side (14) and the rear
side (16) of the bag (10), against one another and
sealing them.
11. The process of Claim 10, characterized in that
the number of articles (54) combined to form a stack and
introduced into a bag (10) in each case is such that the
articles (54) do not exert any great amount of expansive
force on any of the sides (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22).
12. The process of Claim 10 or 11, characterized
in that use is made of a plastic film consisting of
polyethylene.
13. The process of one of Claims 10 through 12,
characterized in that the opening of the bag (10) is
aided by suction means (62).

Description

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W096/24537 PCT~S96/01796
Flexible Bag for Packa~inq
ComPrQssible Absorbent Articles
Bac~l G~n~ of the Invention
The invention relates to a flexible bag and to a
process for producing the bag and for packaging
compressible, absorbent articles in the same.
U.S. Patent No. 5,282,687 discloses bags of this
generic type which, in terms of production and
structure, are comparatively costly and complicated, and
do not provide simple and hygienic handling. In the
case of this bag, provision is made for at least one
line of weakness which, after being destroyed, makes it
impossible for absorbent articles to be stored
hygienically and reasonably securely. This is because
said known bag pack is to be of such a configuration
that the bag opening formed by the destroyed line of
weakness gapes open in order to permit simple removal of
further articles out of the bag. However, this leads to
the risk of cont~ ;n~tion of the articles which, in the
case of absorbent articles for feminine hygiene, may
have consequences which are hazardous to the health.
This is even more so considering that said known bag is
not dimensionally stable and can thus easily fall over,
with the result that the articles contained therein may
be contaminated, thus aggravating the risks and
disadvantages outlined above.
8ummarY of the Invention
The object of the invention is thus to improve a
flexible bag of the known generic type such that the bag
can be produced using a smaller amount of material and
can be opened and closed in a user-friendly manner. The
intention is for it to be possible to remove an article

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in a simple and hygienic manner. Furthermore, the bag
is intended to have good ~; ~nsional stability, with the
result that maintaining the quality of the articles
packaged therein is largely ensured.
The invention relates to a flexible plastic bag for
a plurality of compressible absorbent articles which are
arranged in parallel one beside the other. The bag has
an approximately rectangular base, a front side, a rear
side, two narrow sides, and an upper side. The bag is
being closed on all sides and is provided with a line of
weakness which marks an opening for the individual
removal of the articles. The height of the bag is
greater than the depth of the bag, the line of weakness
extends, midway along the bag, from the longitudinal
center of the upper side, toward the base, approximately
halfway down of the front side of the bag. The base of
the bag is enclosed by a downwardly directed supporting
band. The compressible articles do not exerting any
great amount of pressure on any of the sides of the bag
filled with said articles.
It is possible to open the flexible bag merely by
bending it to separate the bag at the line of weakness.
In this arrangement, an article can be removed very
easily from the bag because the articles in the bag are
not exposed to any particular stressing. After an
article has been removed, the opening closes to a great
extent when the bag is replaced in an upright position
on its supporting border which projects downwards from
the base.
Brief DescriPtion of the Drawinq
The invention is explained in more detail herein-
below with reference to the schematic drawing of an n
exemplary embodiment, in which drawing:

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Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a closed,
flexible bag in the upright position;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the bag
according to Figure 1 in an upside-down position;
Figure 3 shows a view of the front side of the bag;
Figure 4 shows a plan view of the upper side of the
bag in Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows a bottom view of the bag in Figure
3;
Figure 6 shows a view of a narrow side of the bag
in Figure 3; and
Figures 7a to 7J show process steps for producing
the bag and for packaging absorbent articles in the
same.
DetailQd Description of the Invention
Shown in Figures 1 to 6 is a flexible bag 10 for a
plurality of compressible absorbent articles 54 which
are arranged in parallel one beside the other.
Preferably, these are articles for f~; n; ne hygiene,
such as sanitary towels. The bag 10 has an
approximately rectangular base 12, a front side 14, a
rear side 16, two narrow sides 18, 20 and an upper side
22. Furthermore, the bag 10 is closed on all sides.
The closure of the upper side 22 comprises, e.g., a weld
seam 24 which extends over the longitudinal center of
the upper side 22, between the two narrow sides 18, 20.
The narrow sides 18, 20 of the bag 10 are closed, e.g.,

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by weld seams 26, 28 which run vertically in the
longitudinal center of the narrow sides 18, 20. The
upper side 22 and front side 14 are provided with a line
of weakness 30 which extends from the central weld seam
24 of the upper side 22 and, approximately
perpendicularly with respect to said weld seam 24,
approximately midway along the bag 10, downwards from
the top approximately half way down the front side 14.
Destroying this line of weakness 30 provides an opening
for the individual removal of one of the articles. The
line of weakness 30 may be formed in the manner of a
notched line by perforating the film material 38 or,
preferably, by reducing the thickness of the film
material. In a preferred embodiment illustrated in Fig.
1, the line of weakness 30 is preferably approximately
110 mm.
The height of the bag 10 is defined essentially by
the length of the articles to be packaged therein. The
length of its front side 14 is a multiple of the depth
of the bag or of the depth of a narrow side of the same.
The base 12 is enclosed by a downwardly extending sup-
porting band 32, as a st~n~;ng aid. The material for
producing the bag 10 is preferably a polyethylene film
having a thickness of 0.040 mm. Depending on the
application purpose, use may also be made, however, of a
different film material of different dimensions.
The bag 10 comprises a single portion of such film,
the base 12 being formed by a pushed-in section in the
form of an inner fold 42 of film portions 44, 46 of the
front side 14 and rear side 16. In order to produce the
supporting band 32 which is guided around the base 12,
on the underside thereof, full-surface sealing of the
pushed-in film portions 44, 46 to the adjacent front
side 14 and rear side 16, respectively, takes place, in

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the region of one of two outer folds 41, 43 formed by
them, said sealing being of a width which corresponds to
the height of the supporting band 32.
A process according to the invention provides for
the following steps, for producing the bag 10, which are
represented in the schematic drawing of Figures 7a to
7j:
According to Figure 7a, a continuous, planar web 38
comprising a plastic film is moved forwards, in arrow
direction "x", in a stepwise manner in length portions
39 which correspond approximately to the length of the
bag 10. According to Figure 7b, the film web 38 is
folded upon itself about a longitudinal axis 37, in
doing so forming a longitudinal fold 40 on one longi-
tudinal side and two longitudinal halves 34, 36, locatedone above the other, of the film web 38.
According to Figure 7c, a line of weakness 30 is
then produced in each case in a longitudinal center 45
of the length portions 39 of the upper longitudinal half
36 of the continuous film web 38, transversely with
respect to the movement direction "x" of the film web
38, which line of weakness 30 extends from an outer
border 56, which is parallel to the longitudinal fold 40
and belongs to the upper longitudinal half 36, in the
direction of the opposite longitudinal fold 40,
approximately as far as the center longitudinal axis of
the upper longitudinal half 36 of the film web 38. The
lower longitudinal half 34 projects laterally outward,
by means of an outer border 58, beyond the outer border
56 of the upper longitudinal half 36.
According to Figure 7d, film portions 44, 46,
located one above the other, of the lower and the upper
longitudinal halves 34, 36 are pushed continuously
inward at the longitll~;n~l fold 40 in order to produce

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an inner fold 42. In this arrangement, the lower
longitl~in~l half 34 of the film web 38 forms a lower
outer fold 41 with the lower film portion 44 of the
inner fold 42, and the upper longitudinal half 36 forms
an upper outer fold 43 with the upper film portion 46.
According to Figure 7e, full-surface sealing in
each case of the lower longitl~;nAl half 34 of the film
web 38 to the lower film portion 44 of the inner fold 40
takes place, in the region of the outer fold 41, and,
separately therefrom, of the upper longitudinal half 36
of the film web 38 to the upper film portion 46 of the
inner fold 42 takes place, in the region of the outer
fold 43, a supporting band 32 being formed in the
process, and said sealing being over a width which
corresponds to the height of, for example, 7 mm of the
supporting band 32.
According to Figure 7f, front and, subsequently,
rear ends 48, 49 of length portions 50, corresponding to
the length of a bag 10, of the longitudinal halves
34, 36, located one above the other, of the film web 38
are sealed one after the other in order to form the
narrow sides 18, 20 of the bag 10 and are simultaneously
severed from the film web 38. According to Figure 7g,
an introduction opening 51, formed by the outer borders
56, 58 of the two longitudinal halves 34, 36 and located
opposite the base 12, of the bag 10 is opened and
widened by a compressed-air jet "y" and two suction
elements 62 in the direction "z".
According to Figure 7h, a stack 52 of longitudi-
nally extending articles 54 is introduced into the bag
10, the articles being arranged with their main planes
parallel to the narrow sides 18, 20. The number of
articles 54, which in a preferred embodiment may be from
18 to 20 sanitary towels, be selected such that said

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W096/24s37 PCT~S96/01796
articles do not exert sufficient force on the front side
14 and the rear side 16, located in parallel opposite
said front side, or on the narrow sides 18, 20, spaced
apart opposite one another in parallel, of the bag 10 to
cause the opening to remain open in a relaxed condition.
Furthermore, according to Figure 7i, the outer borders
56, 58, enclosing the introduction opening 51, of the
film material 38 are folded inward on the narrow sides
18, 20 in order to close the introduction opening 51
partially.
According to Figure 7j, the introduction opening is
then closed by pressing the outer borders 56, 58,
assigned to the front side 14 and the rear side 16 of
the bag 10, against one another and sealing them, e.g.,
by means of a welding-roller pair 60, and any film
jutting out beyond the weld seam 24 is severed by the
welding rollers.
Upon opening the closed bag 10 filled with the
absorbent articles 54, a compressive force is exerted on
the upper region of the rear side 16 of the bag 10,
while, at the same time, bending forces or tensile
forces are exerted on the bag 10 on both sides of the
line of weakness 30, with the result that the line of
weakness 30 is destroyed and a removal opening is
provided in its place, through which removal opening in
each case one absorbent article 54, such as a sanitary
towel, can be removed. Said removal is readily possible
because the sanitary towel has been introduced into the
bag, in a stack comprising a plurality of elements,
without any great amount of pre-stressing, such as
compression. Consequently, the compressible articles
packaged in the bag do not exert any great amount of
- expansive force, by means of which the removal opening
produced by destroying the line of weakness 30 would

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maintain a wide-open position, on the narrow sides
18, 20 of the bag 10 from the inside. Rather, the
removal opening closes again to a great extent after an
article has been removed from the bag 10. This closing
of the removal opening is, furthermore, assisted by the
supporting band 32 if the bag 10 is deposited on a
planar surface after it has been used.

-
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_ g
List of designations
Bag
12 Base
14 Front side
16 Rear side
18, 20 Narrow sides
22 Upper side
24 Weld seam (upper side 22)
26 Weld seam (left-hand narrow side)
28 Weld seam (right-hand narrow side)
Line of weakness
32 Supporting band
34, 36 Longitudinal halves (film web 38)
37 Longitudinal axis
38 Film web
39 Length portions
Longitudinal fold (film web)
41, 43 Outer folds
42 Inner folds
Longitudinal center
44, 46 Film portions
48, 49 End (front and rear of 39)
Severed length portions
51 Introduction opening
52 Stack
54 Articles (sanitary towels)
56, 58 Outer borders
Welding-roller pair
62 Suction elements
x Movement direction
y Compressed-air jet
z Suction element direction

Representative Drawing